Attachment for internal combustion engines



Feb. 27, 1940. G. H. MEISER ATTACHMENT FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINESFiled March 20, 1939 J7? d'ejz' 2 0 1.- Geovcyeff/llelsez Zmww.

Patented Feb. 27, 1940 umreo S'iA'iES ATTACHMENT FOB,

INTERNAL COMBUS- TION ENGINES George H. Meiser, Chicago, Ill.Application March 20, 1939, Serial No. 252,960

My invention relates to improvements in attachments for internalcombustion engines and, more particularly, an air pump adapted for use 7in connection with a multi-cylinder internal m bustion engine; myattachment being primarily adapted for use in connection with motorvehicles Claims.

for tire inflation, though as will be understood. it Y may be put toother uses.

Devices of this character require for their use merely the removal of aspark-plug from one of the cylinders of the engine and the insertion of,

the device on the engine suction stroke and the shutting o-fi? of thisair from the atmosphere on the engine compression stroke be as nearlyinstantaneously reactive to the engine suctionand pressure as possible;in other words, that valvelag be minimized to as great a degree aspossible not only because such lag reduces the efiiciency of the pumpbut because unless practically nonexistent on the suction stroke, is aptto result in thepumping of gasoline vapor instead of pure air. Byproviding against valve lag on the suction stroke thus permittinginstantaneous flow of air to the pumping cylinder, and providing for thefree flow of suflicient quantities of air through the device, suctionproduced by the pumping cylinder of the engine may be relievedsufii'ci'ently to insure against. the drawing of gasoline vapor into thecylinder from the intake of the engine in which vacuum exists.

Furthermore, in the use of the device in the spark 'plug-receivingopening of the pumping cylinder the inlet for the air drawn into thepumping cylinder through the device is limited to the size of thisopening which is relatively small,

and it is therefore necessary, in order that the pumping cylinder pumphigh pressures without pumping gasoline vapor, that the device permitunrestricted flow of air to the pumping cylinder 7 and that the airinlet valve of the device act without substantial lag in both openingand closing. Restricted. flow of air into the device reduces efllciencyby reducing the pressure which 66 may be developed and results in thecreation of such vacuum in the pumping cylinder, on its suction stroke;as to draw gasoline vapor from'the intake of the engineinto the pumpingcylinder. Valve lag in the drawing of air into the device not onlyreduces the pressure which may be dveloped, but also is apt to resultinthe pumping of gasoline vapors andvalve lag on the compression stroke ofthe pumping cylinder reduces the pressure developed. v

Devices of this character for universal application inust be adapted forsatisfactory. operation on engines which operate not only at low, butrelatively high, idling speeds. The higher the idling speed of theengine the more necessary the avoidance of valve lag and avoidance ofrestricted air. flow to the air inlet (spark-plugreceiving openingi'ofthe pumping cylinder, for pumping high pressures without the pumping ofgasoline vapors. p Certain of my objects are to provide a device of thecharacter described which will operate to insure such free andinstantaneous flow ofair into the pumping cylinder as to avoid-thepumping of gasoline vapor even at relatively high engineeidling-speeds;to efiect quick shut-off of the device to the atmosphere upon theconclusion of the suction-stroke; to provide for the pumping of higherpressures at any'usual engine idling speed than hitherto possible andwithout drawing gasoline vapor into the pumping cylinder; and to accomplish these resultsby a novel, simple" and inexpensive constructionof the device. Another requirement of the device of the character statedis thatit shall' be adapted'for application to use on engines as atpresent'co'mmonly constructed many of which are of such designastopresent obstruction to the application thereto of such-devices unlessthe devices are of quite small size; it being another of my objects to;provide a device by which the purposes above mentioned may beaccomplished and yet will be of such small size as toladapt it for usewith engines as at present constructed even when oi such design as torequire the useof smallsize devices to avoid obstruction to assemblywith the engine.

Referring to the accompanying drawing: I Figure l is a View in verticalsectional elevation of one of the cylinders of a multi-oylinder internalcombustion engine showing it as equipped with a deviceembodying myinvention. I

Figure 2 is an enlarged View in vertical sectional elevation of thedevice of Fig, 1. Figure 3 is a plan sectional view of the device, thesection'being taken at the irregular line 3-3 on Fig. 2 and viewed inthe direction of the arrows, this view showing the flap valves of thedevice in the position they assume upon the engine suction stroke.

Figure 4 is a view like Fig.3 and of the structure therein shownillustrating the fiap valves in the positions they assume on the enginepressure stroke, the section being taken at the line 4 on Fig. 2 andviewed in the direction of the arrow.

Figure 5 is a view in elevation of the structure comprising the flapvalves and .a valve cage of the preceding figures of the drawing showingone. of the flap valves as turned back to expose a detail of the valvecage, the structure being viewed approximately from the front thereof inFigs. 3 and 4; and

Figure 6, a view in side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 5 withthe flap valve at the near side of the structure omitted to illustrate adetail of the valve cage, this view being taken from; the right handsideof- Fig. 5.

Referring. to the construction shown, the device comprises a cylindricalcasing F- provided with external threads 8 adapted to be screwed intothe spa-rk-plng receiving opening 9 of one of the cylinders of amulti-cylinderl internal combustion engine, such as the cylinder I-Il oftheenginerepresented at II.

' The casing I contains diametrically opposed series I2 and. I3- of.circumferential slotseach shown asof a length slightly greater thanonefourth of: the circumference of the casing, these slots forming airinlets fora purposehereinafter explained. The air inlets I2 and l-Sarecontrolled bycheckvalves in the form. of fiapvalves I4 and I5, thesevalves being preferably made of a rubber-like material. havingthenecessary qualities to meet the conditionsoi. use in connection with aninternal combustion engine, such as is well known in the art; thematerial. known in the art as Neoprene. being admirably suited for mypurpose.

The valves I4 and were held in position by a cage or retainer It.comprising two separate sections I1: and IB-ot identical shape and form.The sections I I: and W are of arcuate form presenting the arcuateportions: L9 and 20, respectively, which describearcs of considerablyless. radii than the radius of'the inner cylindrical surface of thecasing Ltheportions I 9- and 28 being. apertured' asindicated at: 21

Extending, along. onev longitudinal edge. of the section I8 is a; seriesof outwardly bent lugs- 22 shown'as fiv-e inrnumber and equidistantlyspaced. and along. the opposite. edge of this section is a seriesofoutwardly bent lugs 23- of considerably greater-length than thelugsv 2-2as. shown, the

lugs 23 being circumferentially alined' with the ones of the lugsv 2.2.next adjacent the. terminal ones of the series thereof. The section I1is similarly providedwith lugs at its-oppositev longitudinal edges,theselugs being, represented at 24 and 25 and corresponding with thelugs 22. and 23;, respectively.

- Theupper and lower edge portions of the section I8 are cut away fromthe terminal ones of the lug 22 tothe lugs. 23 as indicated at 26. and21; the upper and lower edges of the section IT being similarly cut awayfrom the terminal ones of its. lugs 24 to the lugs 25- as represented at28 and 29. I

The sections I1 and I8, preferably made of sheet metal, are. sopositioned that the long lugs 23 and 25 register, respectively, withthose of the lugs 24' and 22 which are. next adjacent to the terminalones of the lugs 22 and 24, as shown, the outer ends of theseregistering lugs being flush with each other.

The flap valves I4 and I5 are formed from eparate sheets of the desiredmaterial these valves being apertured along one edge as represented at3B of the flap M shown in Fig. 5, to receive the lugs 23 and 25 and theintermediate ones of the lugs 22 and 24. The flap valves are thus heldat vertical marginal portions. thereof against shifting lengthwise andcircumferentially of the cage and present portions opposite the airinlets I2 and I3 freely movable into and out of a position for closingthese air inlets; the free portions of these valves extending from theirnamely, circumferentially of the casing.

The cage is so positioned in the casing I as to cause its arcuatemembers la and 20 to span the series of slots I2 and I 3 as shown, withthefiap valves M and I5 interposed therebetween. Inthis position of theparts the lugs 22 -25 on the cage extend into diametrically opposedverti- I cal grooves SI in the upper part of the casing I. These groovesextend through the upper end of the casing and in assembling the parts.the lugs on the cage are entered into the upper ends of these groovesand the cage, together with the flap valves thereon, slid in thesegrooves to a po- -15 connections with the cage in the same direction,

68 as above described causes these sectionsbetween the lugs 23 on theone section and the lugs 25 on the other section, to present slots 33and 34 at opposite sides of the cage which extend throughout the greaterportion of the length of the cage. The slots 33 and 34 are located adjacent the free edge portions of the flap valves l5 and M, respectively,the flap valves being v of such l size that. they do not cover theseslotswhen these valves are in a position in which they are displacedfrom the air inlets I2 and I3, namely on the suction stroke of theengine.

The parts. are. so proportioned asshown that when. the flap valves I4and I5 are displaced I from the air inlets I2 and I3 asshown in. Figsf2and 3, the greater. portion of the lower edge ofthe cage will be spacedfrom. the casing,.as shown, thus affording passagesthrough which. airdrawn into. the device through the inlets I2 and I3. may passdownwardly, without obstruction, intothe casing l directly to a positionbelow the cage and thence to the engine cylinder; air also passing fromthe air inlets I2 and I3 throughthe, slots 33 and 34 into the cage anddischarging through ball-check 3T, theupper end of thecap being providedwith a nipple 38 adapted for attachment to I the end of a flexible hoseshown. at 39;.

In the use of the device the. casing I is screwed into aspark-plug-receiving opening asv above 'de-,

scribed. When the engine is operated the piston in the cylinder towhichthe deviceis attached operates to draw air into the casing throughthe openings I2 and I3 and expel it at a high pressure through the.opening 36 into the hose39.

The flap valves I4 and I5 beingsupportedat marginal portions as abovedescribed are thus free to move at their portions opposing the airinlets l2 and I3 and Without any interference between them and anyfrictional resistance, thus rendering them very sensitive in action.

Furthermore, provision is provided by the construction shown anddescribed, for the free, substantially unobstructed flow of the air fromthe air inlets l2 and l3 into the interior of the lower end of thecasing l and-in such volume as to prevent the Vacuum produced on thesuction stroke of the piston of the pumping cylinder from becomingsufiiciently effective on the gas intake of the engine as to drawgasoline into this cylinder.

'In this connection it will be noted that the valves I4 and I5 extend attheir free portions in the same direction, namely, in the constructionshown in clockwise direction (Fig. 4); the fixed edges of these valvescontacting with the side wall of the casing 1. Thus portions of the airentering the casing 1 are directed from the v opposite sides of thecasing in the same direction circumferentially by the free portions ofthe valves 14 and I5, toward the respective slots 34 and 33 which causesthe air to freely swirl in the cage without obstruction and withoutbaffling, such as would result were the two streams to abut, and flowout of the lower end of the cage; the longitudinal edges of the flapvalves l4 and I5 adjacent their connections with the cage, beingbeveledas indicated at 35 to reduce to the minimum the baffling of the air inits movement to the slots 33 and 34.

- In the particular construction shown the cage I 6 not only serves as asupport for the flap valves but also as a means for limiting inwardmovement of the free edge portions thereof on the suction stroke of thepumping cylinder serving to permit the flap valves to move inwardlysufficiently far for effecting the desired air flow through the devicebut preventing flapping or fluttering of the flap valves as would occurin case no such stops were provided and which would manifestly beobjectionable.

The sensitivity of the flap valves is effective. not only as a factor indeveloping a high degree of efficiency in the pumping of air, permittinghigh pressures to be developed, but also as a factor in preventing thepumping of gasoline.

As will be understood, when the flap valves are displaced inwardlyagainst the cage IE on the suction stroke of the pumping cylinder, theopenings 2i become covered by the flap valves and thus the latter arequickly forced into a position in which they cover the air inlets I2 and[3, by the action of the air directed against these valves, upon thebeginning of the compression stroke of the pumping cylinder,contributing to the pumping of high pressures.

While I have illustrated and described a particular embodiment of myinvention I do not wish to be understood as intending" to limit itthereto as the same may be variously modified and altered withoutdeparting from the spirit of my inven- I tion.

a valve cage in said casing and spaced from the side wall of saidcasing, flap valves interposed between said casing and cage and held inplace at marginal edge portions thereof extending generally in thedirection of the length of the device and closely adjacent said casingand each present ing a free portion, said free portions extending in thesame direction and adapted to move crosswise of the device into and outof a position for closing said air inlets, said cage having openingsadjacent to, to extend beyond, the free portions of said flap valves towhich the flap valves direct air entering the casing through said airinlets, the longitudinal edges of said flap valves adja cent theportions thereof at which they are held in place being beveled todeflect inwardly air irn-' pinging against them.

2. A device of the character described comprising a casing having an airinlet in itsside wall, a valve cage in said casing formed of separatenon-symmetrical, outwardly convex sections of the same form and sizeassociated in mutually reversed relation to provide with the casing acurved wedge-shaped valve chamber, and a flap valve between said casingand cage, secured in place at one of its longitudinal edge portions andpresenting a free portion in said chamber cooperating with said airinlet. v

3. A device of the character described com-prising a casing having anair inlet in its side wall, a valve cage in said casing formed ofseparate sections and presenting registering lateral lugs at adjacentedges thereof, and a flap valve between said casing and cage andapertured to receive said lugs.

4. A device of the character described compris ing a casing having anair inlet in its side wall and grooves on the inner surface of its sidewall extending generally lengthwise of said casing and through one endthereof, a valve cage in said casing having lateral lugs, and a flapvalve between said casing and cage, said cage being slid- .able at saidlugs in said grooves to assembled position therein.

A device of the character described. comprising a casing having an airinlet in its side wall and grooves on. the innerisurface of its sidewall extending generally lengthwise of said casing and through. one endthereof, a valve cage in said casing formed of separate sectionspresenting registering lateral lugs at adjacent edges thereof, and aflap valve between said casing and cage, said cage being slidable atsaid lugs in said grooves to assembled position in said casing.

6. A device of the character described comprising a casing having an airinlet in its side wall and grooves on the inner surface of its side wallextending generally lengthwise of said casing and through one endthereof, a valve cage in said casing formed of separate sectionspresenting registering lateral lugs at adjacent edges thereof, and aflap valve between said casing and cage apertured to receive said lugs,said cage being slidable at said lugs in said grooves to assembledposition in said casing.

,7. A device of the character described comprising a casing having anair inlet in its side wall, a valve cage in said casing presenting edgesextending generally lengthwise thereof, said edges having registeringlugs of different lengths afiording an opening therebetween in saidcage, and a flap valve between said casing d nal ed es of ach sectionhavin outwa d y laterally extending lugs, those atone edge being longerthan those at the other edge, the longer of said lugs registering withthe shorter ones thereof affording openings in said cage between saidlonger lugs, and flap valves between said casing and cage and held inplace at marginal edge portions thereof extending generally in thedirection of the length of the device and closely adjacent said casingand each presenting a free portion, said free portions extending in thesame direction and adapted to move crosswise of the device into and outof a position for closing said air inlets, said openings being located,respectively, adjacent the free portions of said flap valves, wherebysaid flap valves direct to said openings air entering the casing throughsaid air inlets.

9. A device of the character described comprising a casing having airinlets in its side wall, a valve cage in said casing formed of separatesections the joints between them extending generally lengthwise of thedevice, the longitudinal edges of each section having outwardlylaterally extending lugs, those at one edge being longer than those atthe other edge, the longer of said lugs registering with the shorterones thereof affording openings in said cage between said longer lugs,and flap valves between said casing and cage and having slots atmarginal edge portions thereof extending generally lengthwise of thedevice into which certain of said lugs extend, said flap valvesextending closely adjacent said casing at their held edges, each of saidflap valves presenting a free portion, said free portions extending inthe same direction and adapted to move crosswise of the device into andout of a position for closing said air inlets, said openings beinglocated, respectively, adjacent the free portions of said flap valves,whereby said flap valves direct to said openings air entering the casingthrough said air inlets.

10. A device of the character described comprising a casing having airinlets in its side wall at opposite sides of the casing, the innersurface of said side wall having grooves extend ing generally lengthwiseof said casing and through one end thereof, a valve cage in said casingformed of separate sections, the longitudinal edges of saidvalve-cage-sections having outwardly laterally extending lugs, those atone edge being longer than those at the other edge, the longer of saidlugs registering with the shorter ones thereof affording openings insaid cage between said longer lugs, and flap valves. between said casingand cage and having slots at marginal edge portions thereof extendinggenerally lengthwise of the device into which said lugs extend, saidflap valves extending closely adjacent said casing at their held ends,said free portions extending in the same direction and adapted to movecrosswise of the device into and out of a position for closing said airinlets, said openings being located, respectively, adjacent the freeportions of said flap valves, whereby said flap valves direct to saidopenings air entering the casing through said air inlets, said cagebeing slidable at said lugs in said grooves to assembled raolial openingbetween the longer ones of said lugs communicating with the interior ofthe cage, and a flap valve between said casing and cage for controllingsaid air inlet, said opening being adjacent to, but beyond the freeportion of said flap valve.

12. A device of the character described com prising a casing having anair inlet in its side 7 wall, a valve cage in said casing formed inseparate sections, said sections each formed with.

lugs projecting at an edge thereof, and a flap valve formed withopenings engaging the lugs of each of said sections to hold saidsections in assembly, and acting to control said inlet.

GEORGE H. MEISER.

